Trisha Yearwood and Keith Urban Recreate Iconic Country Duet at the Grand Ole Opry 45 Years Later (Exclusive)
One of country music's most beloved duets came back to life at the Grand Ole Opry on Wednesday night, June 10.
As part of a special tribute to Country Music Hall of Fame member Don Williams, Trisha Yearwood and Keith Urban teamed up at the to perform "If I Needed You," the classic duet Williams recorded with Emmylou Harris in 1981.
Parade was on hand at the Opry for the emotional performance, which paid tribute to Williams, known throughout country music as "The Gentle Giant."
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Before she and Keith Urban launched into "If I Needed You," Trisha Yearwood smiled and told the audience, "I'm gonna be Emmylou, and you're gonna be Don. It's gonna be cool. We're gonna do it. Let's do it."
Moments later, the two country stars recreated the classic Don Williams and Emmylou Harris duet as part of a special Opry tribute to Williams.
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The song has a rich history in country music. Written by legendary singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt, "If I Needed You" first appeared on his 1972 album The Late Great Townes Van Zandt. Nearly a decade later, Williams and Harris recorded the song as a duet for Harris' 1981 album Cimarron.
Their version became one of the most enduring recordings of either artist's career, reaching No. 3 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and topping the country charts in Canada.
Wednesday's tribute concert celebrated Williams' extraordinary legacy. Nicknamed "The Gentle Giant" for his towering frame and warm bass-baritone voice, Williams scored 17 No. 1 country hits during a career that spanned decades. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2010.
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Before the performance, Yearwood also took a moment to honor another beloved figure in country music: longtime Grand Ole Opry announcer and WSM radio personality Bill Cody, who died June 9 at age 67.
"I want to take one second before we move on and I've heard some people have mentioned our dear friend Bill Cody," Yearwood told the audience. "You heard his voice on the loudspeaker when you came in tonight. He was a dear friend to all of us and I think we're all playing this show for Don Williams and also for Bill Cody. So I just wanted to send my love out with everybody else to his family."
The June 10 Opry tribute also featured performances from Rodney Crowell, Brandy Clark, Jamey Johnson and The Isaacs, all celebrating the enduring influence of Williams' music on generations of country artists.
Related: Beloved Voice of Country Music Dies at 67
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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 7:40 AM.